Benue HIV/AIDS Prevalence Rate Drops To 4.7%

Human Immunodeficiency Virus and  Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, has dropped from 12.9 to 4.7 percent in Benue State.

This was disclosed by the Zonal Coordinator, North Central Zone of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, NACA, Mr Lawrence Kwaghga when he paid courtesy call on Governor Samuel Ortom at the Government House Makurdi, on Wednesday.

Kwaghga noted the support of the Benue State government in the fight against the spread of the scourge, stressing that the desire of NACA and the world in general was to end the spread of HIV-AIDS by 2030.

He however, called for sustained and increased funding from government at all levels, saying that there was need for increased budgetary allocation to the state and zonal offices of NACA to be able to achieve set goals.

“There would be need for revival of local offices of the agency for improved service delivery. Therefore,  government must give support in terms of funding at this point”, he said.

Responding, Governor Ortom expressed delight over the sharp drop in the prevalence rate of HIV-AIDS and pledged his administration’s support for the agency to achieve set objectives.

The governor pledged improved funding for the agency in the state, even as he acknowledged the support of donor agencies and development partners to the fight against the spread of the deadly scourge.